Kirksville’s Gerald “Shag” Grossnickle emphasized he wasn’t trying to be boastful by stating he was already a member of five Halls of Fame.

No, he was saying that simply to highlight the importance of the announcement he along with several other local sports standouts will be enshrined in the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame this December.

“Without boasting, this happens to be the number 6 Hall of Fame I happen to be in,” Grossnickle said. “This one rates so highly. I’m so honored to be inducted with all of these wonderful gentlemen.”

Grossnickle is joined on the list of inductees by his son, Gary “Skip” Grossnickle, Dr. John Bailey, Shane Cavanah, Bill Clark, Darold Knowles, Ben Pitney, Bob Roberts and the 1969, 1970 and 1971 Northeast Missouri State University football teams. They will each be honored at a banquet in Kirksville Dec. 5.

The Missouri Sports Hall of Fame is located in Springfield, Mo., and attracts 50,000 guests annually. In an effort to increase visibility, the Hall took enshrinement ceremonies on the road starting last year.

The event in Kirksville is expected to draw around 500 people.

At Wednesday’s press conference, each of the soon-to-be inductees present were given an opportunity to speak, and all noted how honored and humbled they were by the pending enshrinement.

Dr. Bailey has served as Truman State’s sports physician since 1997. He credited the university for accepting and helping shape shining young people, a vast majority of which he said he’d be “happy to take home to dinner.”

Cavanah is a football coaching legend in northeast Missouri, having amassed a 255-119-3 record and leading teams to 17 conference titles, 16 district crowns and one state championship (1968, Princeton).

“Shag” Grossnickle will be inducted for his efforts in outdoor sports, known as an avid hunter, golfer and “all around conservationist” credited with introducing wild turkey to northeast Missouri.

“Skip” Grossnickle earned all-American honors in football and basketball while at Kirksville High School and went on to earn all-Big Eight honors while starring in the 1966 Sugar Bowl with Mizzou. He credited his great teammates for helping him have success on the field and said he was particularly honored to share the December moment with his father.

“I can’t describe how honored I am to be honored here with my father,” he said.

Pitney noted the December ceremony will be special given he spent 23 years coaching basketball at what is now Truman State and continues to have “purple and white blood” flowing through his veins.

Roberts, who is still head coach at Cairo, enters the 2012-2013 season with a record of 871-486 with two state championships (Cairo and Atlanta). He credited a strong support system for his success.

Page 2 of 2 - “Without great kids, great parents and great administrators, I wouldn’t be standing here today,” he said.

The Russ Sloan-led Northeast Missouri State football teams of 1969-1971 won three straight MIAA championships, though each team was predicted to finish no higher than fourth in any of those seasons.

Former player Bob Gibson said there were many nights he and his fellow players considered whether the punishing days were worth it.

“Right now, I’m glad we stuck it out.”

Already, 130 members of those teams have reservations for December’s event.

Clark, who was not present at Wednesday’s event, has worked as a Major League scout, umpire and founded the Heart of America Marathon. He also played a role in founding the U.S. Powerlifting Federation.

Knowles played for eight different Major League teams, but is best known for pitching in Oakland from 1971-1974 when his team won three straight World Series championships.

Knowles pitched in all seven games of the 1973 World Series and posted a 0.00 ERA, a record that will never be broken.